Browne Jacobson LLP

IPR admin and public law.

Laura Hughes is public and administrative law lawyer, specialising in all aspects of decision making by public bodies.  She regularly advises on governance, regulatory regimes, consultation, appeals, judicial reviews, planning law, environment and inquiries.  Laura is client partner for a number of "household name" clients in the public sector, such as Welsh Government, the National Audit Office, Sports England, Natural Resources Wales, UK Sport, Qualifications Wales, Northern Ireland Audit Office and the Arts Council for England.  She is trusted by clients to run their most high profile matters, and advise on matters of strategic importance.

This year she has advised on a number of high profile and complex matters for her clients.  She has advised Qualifications Wales in relation to all matters concerning the cancellation of exams in 2020 and 2021, and on how grading should occur in the absence of assessments.  This involved regular attendance at QW Board, as well as being part of QW’s internal project team, and attending meetings with the Minister.  She has also advised Northern Ireland Audit Office in relation to their extraordinary audit of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, Welsh Government on Building Safety legislative and organisational reform, Natural Resources Wales on strategic flooding issues and UK Sport on governance issues associated with the This Girl Can campaign. 

Trained Browne Jacobson LLP; qualified 2003; assistant solicitor Browne Jacobson LLP 2003-07; partner 2011 to date.

UK Environmental Law Association – member and chair of the East Midlands group , and member of the environmental litigation and nature conservation working parties.

King Edward II High School, Morpeth, Northumberland; Sheffield University; Nottingham Law School (2000 LLB; 2001 LPC).